Members of Douglas County 4-H groups bade farewell to their animal projects Sunday as the Douglas County Free Fair came to an end with a livestock auction.

Each animal received many hours of one-on-one work to prepare for showing; their caretakers have been known to become attached to their wards.

“I cried twice already this morning and was about to cry again right afterward,” said Morgan Trowbridge, a member of the Pioneers 4-H club, who auctioned off her 1,273 pound steer, Nelson.

The 16-year-old Olathe teen worked for more than five hours each day on her 4-H projects, which included raising cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. She was excited to see her hard work pay off Sunday, she said, as her steer, goat and lamb, all grand champions, were sold to the highest bidders.

Trowbridge has received numerous awards in her 10 years in the 4-H club, including grand champion steer last year. She said she would use the money from this year’s auction to help buy next year’s competitor.

Nelson was purchased by Dean and Sheri Penny of Penny Construction Inc. Dean Penny said he knew the meat would be high quality.

“It was the finest one out here and I love pot roast and steaks,” he said.

He said he bought from the fair because of his ties with the Lone Star 4-H group.

“It’s a good way to give back to the community and the kids,” he said. “I try to support the kids.”

¢More about the Douglas County Free Fair

Some 4-H members said they would use money raised from the auction for college money. Most, like Trowbridge, will use the money to begin projects for next year’s fair.

Before the sale, buyers at the auction were treated to a reception featuring homemade pies. Other events on the final day of the fair included a church service and a pony pull contest, in which competitors hitched pony teams to weighted sleds

Jacob Thompson, 3, Pleasant Hill, Mo., downs a handful of sunflower seeds during the pony pull competition at the Douglas County Free Fair. The pony pull was just before the afternoon livestock auction, the concluding event of the fair.

Morgan Trowbridge, 16, is pictured above at right with her mother, Cindy Allen, preparing Nelson, the grand champion market steer of the Douglas County Free Fair, for the auction.

Robert Thompson, Pleasant Hill, Mo., left and his son Seth, 8, hook their team of horses to a weighed sled of cinderblocks while competing in the pony pull at the Douglas County Free Fair. The pony pull was held Sunday in the rodeo arena before the afternoon livestock aution, the concluding event of the Douglas County Free Fair.